Community, Leisure and Sports for All: Stay Young 2023 |21 November 2023

Improving the physical function and quality of life of the senior citizens

As it has been the case for the past years, with the aim of enhancing balance and strength of the older adults, thus preventing of falls and improving their physical function and quality of life, the community, leisure and sports for all unit within the National Sports Council once again hosted the ‘Stay Young’ exercise activity for senior citizens.

This year’ activity took place last Friday at the Beau Vallon beach, gathering senior citizens from various Old People’s homes around the country, as well as members of districts’ senior clubs from both Mahé and Praslin.

Elderly patients of the North East Point Hospital were also involved in the activity.

The annual event is a joint effort between the National Sports Council (NSC), the Ministry of Health and the Family department.

The annual ‘Stay Young’ reappeared last year, following a three-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Friday’s event began with a warm-up session conducted by instructors from the leisure and sports for all unit, before the elders engaged themselves in various physical activities, including running, walking, ball throwing, as well as walking with bundles of clothes on the head.

Director for the community, leisure and sports for all unit, Francis Remie, said this year’s activity was also in line with the national campaign against obesity.

It is worth noting that prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the ‘Stay Young’ activity also saw the participation of elderly citizen from La Possession, a town in the north-western part of Reunion Island, bordering the Saint-Denis prefecture as part of an agreement between the Reunion City and Victoria.

Roland Duval